Slow-Release Fertilizer and Method of Making and Using Same

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a fertilizer composition comprising a water-insoluble slow-release reacted nitrogen fertilizer and an effective amount of a water-soluble, non-aromatic poly(amino acid) of the group poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and a terpolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and aspartic acid, wherein the poly(amino acid) has a molecular size larger than that which can be absorbed by a plant. A method of making and using the fertilizer composition is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicants claim the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.60/709,378 filed Aug. 18, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to slow-release nitrogen fertilizers.Specifically, the present invention relates to a fertilizer compositionthat releases nitrogen slowly for a full growing season and/or improvesplant, crop and turf growth relative to slow-release nitrogenfertilizers of the prior art.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Through the years, a variety of techniques have been developed fordelivering nutrients to growing plants and for extending or delaying therelease of nutrients from a fertilizer.

Fertilizer is often applied as a formulated (N—P—K) solid, granule orpowder, or sometimes as a liquid, to an area to be fertilized. There arebasically two types of fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers and“slow-release” fertilizers. While water-soluble fertilizers aregenerally less expensive than slow-release fertilizers, they have thedisadvantage of leaching nutrients very quickly into and through thesoil. Some solid, water-soluble fertilizers can be converted intoslow-release fertilizers by employing various coatings. Alternatively, areduction in nitrogen availability also can be obtained by using enzymeinhibitors. Slow-release fertilizers are designed to release nutrientsto plants or soil over an extended period of time, which is moreefficient than multiple applications of water-soluble fertilizers.Therefore, slow-release fertilizers (also referred to as controlledrelease or extended release) minimize the frequency with which plantsmust be fertilized, as well as reduce or minimize leaching.

Urea-formaldehyde (UF) condensation products are widely used asslow-release nitrogen fertilizers for crops, ornamental plants andgrasses. Urea-formaldehyde fertilizer materials also can be suppliedeither as liquids or as solids and are the reaction products of urea andformaldehyde. Such materials generally contain at least 28% nitrogen,largely in a water-insoluble, slowly available form.

Extended release UF fertilizers (ureaform) can be prepared by reactingurea and formaldehyde at an elevated temperature in an alkaline solutionto produce methylol ureas. The methylol ureas then are acidified topolymerize the methylol ureas to methylene ureas, which increase inchain length as the reaction is allowed to continue. These methyleneurea polymers normally have limited water solubility, and, thus, releasenitrogen throughout an extended period. Such UF fertilizers usuallyinclude a mixture of methylene urea polymers generally have a range ofmolecular weights and are understood to be degraded slowly by microbialaction into water-soluble nitrogen. UF fertilizers are usuallycategorized by the amount and the release characteristics of their waterinsoluble nitrogen.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,899 (the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference) describes a solid, controlled release nitrogen fertilizerof the ureaform type, which consists essentially of only two nitrogenfractions: water-soluble nitrogen and cold water insoluble nitrogen.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,736 (the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference) describes a urea-formaldehyde fertilizer suspension.

Other disclosures of urea-formaldehyde fertilizer compositions, bothliquid and solid forms, include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,378,238; 4,554,005;5,039,328; 5,266,097; 5,674,971; 6,432,156; 6,464,746; 6,900,162;6,936,573 and 6,936,681, the disclosure of which are all incorporatedherein by reference.

Granular nitrogen-containing fertilizers have been produced commerciallyby a variety of techniques using water-soluble nitrogen products, suchas urea, potassium nitrate, and ammonium phosphate. The practicaladvantages of handling, blending, and storing such fertilizer granulesare known and well documented. The preparation of granular fertilizersusing slow-release UF fertilizers also has been described in the priorart.

Recently, it has been proposed to use poly(aspartic acid) to enhanceplant nutrient uptake. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,947 (incorporated hereinby reference). For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,735 (incorporated hereinby reference) discloses ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ureanitrogen combined with poly(aspartic acid) to form a fertilizer.However, the nitrogen disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,735 is awater-soluble form of nitrogen. Other similar patents are U.S. Pat. Nos.5,783,523; 5,814,582; 5,854,177; 5,861,356 and 5,935,909 (all of whichare incorporated herein by reference). However, tests with water-solubleforms of nitrogen in combination with poly(aspartic acid), or hydrolyzedforms of poly(aspartic acid), have not proven to sufficiently enhanceplant growth so as to make the use of this composition economicallyfeasible.

Accordingly, there is a need for a fertilizer that releases nitrogenslowly and improves plant, crop and turf growth relative to conventionalslow-release nitrogen fertilizers or relative to thermal polyaspartatealone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the above-described needs by providing aslow-release nitrogen fertilizer composition that improves plant, cropand turf growth. The fertilizer composition of the present inventioncomprises a water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and thewater-soluble poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,350,735 (incorporated herein by reference), in an amountsufficient to increase the period of release of nitrogen from saidwater-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and/or to improve thegrowth of plants, crops or turf and improved the yield of crops to whichit is applied. The water-insoluble slow-release fertilizer is preferablya water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer, especially methylene urea(also known as urea formaldehyde) or isobutylidene diurea.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a water-insolubleslow-release nitrogen fertilizer and 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartatebased on the weight of the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. Thewater-insoluble slow-release fertilizer is preferably methylene urea.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of usingthe composition of the present invention. The method comprises applyingthe composition of the present invention to soil adjacent a plant or tothe soil in which a plant, crop or turf is growing.

A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a plant at leasta portion of which is coated with the composition of the presentinvention.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a seed at least aportion of which is coated with the composition of the presentinvention.

As used herein, “plant” is intended to refer to any part of a plant(e.g., roots, foliage, shoot) as well as trees, shrubbery, flowers, andgrasses. “Seed” is intended to include seeds, tubers, tuber pieces,bulbs, etc., or parts thereof from which a plant is grown. As also usedherein the term “water-insoluble” shall mean that less than 0.001% byweight of the compound is soluble in water.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer that improves the growth of plants and turf andimproved the yield of crops.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer that allows only a single application per growingseason.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer that results in reduced leaching of the fertilizerinto ground water, streams, rivers and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer that produces crops with improved taste and quality.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aslow-release nitrogen fertilizer that produces crops that have betterstorage properties; i.e., a longer shelf life.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer that produces crops that are more disease free orless disease to produce better quality fruit and vegetables.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant or seedthat grows better because at least a portion thereof is coated with thefertilizer composition of the present invention.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon a review of the following detaileddescription of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises a water-insoluble slow-release nitrogenfertilizer and the poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,593,947 (incorporated herein by reference). As usedherein the term “water-insoluble” shall mean that less than 0.001% byweight of the compound is soluble in water. The poly(amino acids), andsalts thereof, are present in the composition in an amount sufficient toextend the period of release of nitrogen from said water-insolubleslow-release nitrogen fertilizer and/or to improve the nutrient uptakeby the plant, turf or crop, such that plant and turf growth is improvedand crop yield is improved relative to the slow-release nitrogenfertilizers of the prior art. More importantly, the present inventionunexpectedly provides one or more of improved plant and turf growth,improved crop yield, improved crop taste, improved shelf life, improveddisease resistance or reduced leaching compared to the inventiondisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,947.

The amount of time that the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogenfertilizer releases nitrogen is preferably the entire growing season ofthe turf, plant or crop with which the composition of the presentinvention is used. The amount of poly(amino acids), and salts thereof,used is preferably approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight based on theweight of the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer; more preferably,approximately 1% to 5% by weight based on the weight of the slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer; especially, approximately 3% by weight based on theweight of the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers are generally categorized into one ofseveral groups based on the process by which the nutrients are released.There are three categories into which slow-release nitrogen fertilizerscan be classified.

One type of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is relatively insolublenutrients in pelletized form. As the pellet size is increased, the timeit takes for the fertilizer to breakdown by microbial action is alsoincreased. An example of this type of slow-release fertilizer isNitroform or Nutrilene, which are commercially available from Nu-GroTechnologies, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

The second type of slow release nitrogen fertilizer is a reactednitrogen fertilizer; i.e., the nitrogen in the fertilizer is chemicallyreacted with another compound to render at least a portion of thenitrogen water-insoluble. For example, urea, which is water-soluble, canbe chemically modified to make methylene ureas, better known asurea-formaldehyde—a fertilizer that is typically 38 percent nitrogen, 70percent of which is water-insoluble. This percentage is often listed onfertilizer labels as the percent W.I.N., or the percent ofwater-insoluble nitrogen.

Methylene ureas are comprised of polymer chains of varying length. Theshortest methylene urea chains; i.e., methylene diurea (MDU),dimethylene triurea (DMTU) and trimethylene tetraurea (TMTU), arecompletely soluble in cold water; whereas, the longest methylene ureachains are insoluble in boiling water and most other solvents. Therelease of available nitrogen from methylene urea is directly correlatedto chain length with the longer chains of methylene urea showing themost slow-release properties. In soil, methylene urea is degraded intosoluble, plant available nitrogen forms; such as NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻, by aspecific microbial activity. Because microbial activity is greatlyaffected by soil temperature, pH, aeration, and texture, these variablescan affect the rate of release of nitrogen from urea-formaldehyde. Forexample, there will be less fertilizer breakdown in acid soils with pooraeration—an environment unfavorable to soil microorganisms.

Another reacted nitrogen fertilizer is isobutylidene diurea (IBDU). IBDUis similar to urea-formaldehyde, but typically contains 32 percentnitrogen, 90 percent of which is water-insoluble. However, IBDU is lessdependent on microbial activity to control its release of nitrogen thanurea-formaldehyde. With IBDU, nitrogen is released when soil moisture isadequate. Therefore, breakdown and release of nitrogen is increased inacid soils.

The third type of slow release nitrogen fertilizer is a coated orencapsulated fertilizer. Water-soluble fertilizers can be coated orencapsulated in membranes to slow the release of nutrients. For example,one controlled-release fertilizer is composed of a semi-permeablemembrane surrounding water-soluble nitrogen and other nutrients. Waterpasses through the membrane, eventually causing enough internal pressureto disrupt the membrane and release the enclosed nutrients. Because thethickness of the coating varies from one pellet, or prill, to another,nutrients are released at different times from separate prills. Releaserates of these fertilizers are dependent on temperature, moisture, andthickness of the coating.

Another type of coated fertilizer is sulfur-coated urea (SCU), which ismanufactured by coating hot urea with molten sulfur and sealing with apolyethylene oil or a microcrystalline wax. Nitrogen is released whenthe sealant is broken or by diffusion through pores in the coating.Thus, the rate of release is dependent on the thickness of the coatingor the sealant weight. SCU is broken down by microorganisms, andchemical and mechanical action. The nitrogen in SCU is released morereadily in warm temperatures and dry soils. SCU appears to be moreeffective when applied to the soil surface, rather than mixed into thesoil.

A preferred slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is urea-formaldehyde ineither granular or liquid form. Urea-formaldehyde in solid form iscommercially available under the designation Nitroform or Nutrilene fromNu-Gro Technologies, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich. Other similar ureaformaldehyde products are available from other manufacturers.Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers useful in the present invention arealso disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,936,681; 6,936,573 and 6,900,162 (thedisclosures of which are all incorporated herein by reference).

Generally, it is preferred that the reacted nitrogen fertilizercomprises approximately 1% to 50% by weight nitrogen. When the reactednitrogen fertilizer is in liquid form, it is preferred that the reactednitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 36% by weightnitrogen. When the reacted nitrogen fertilizer is in solid form, it ispreferred that the reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately5% to 50% by weight nitrogen.

Urea-formaldehyde is also available in liquid form. A urea-formaldehydein liquid form is commercially available from Regal Chemical Company,Alpharetta, Ga., under the designation LiquiGreen®. Liquidurea-formaldehyde useful in the present invention is also disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,677,736 and 4,378,238 (the disclosures of which are allincorporated herein by reference).

As stated above, the poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, preferred foruse in the present invention are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,593,947. Specifically those poly(amino acids), and salts thereof,include, but are not limited to, water-soluble, non-aromatic poly(aminoacids) of the group poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid),poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of cystein and glutamic acid anda terpolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and aspartic acid, whereinthose poly(amino acids) have at least about 15 repeating organic acidmers and a molecular size larger than 1,000 Daltons (M_(w)); preferably,about 3,000 to 28,000 Daltons; more preferably, about 4,000 to 14,000Daltons; especially, about 3,000 to 5,000 Daltons.

Poly(amino acids) and salts thereof more preferred for use in thepresent invention are non-chelating, water-soluble, non-aromaticpoly(amino acids) of the group poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid),poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of cystein and glutamic acid anda terpolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and aspartic acid, wherein thepoly(amino acids) have a molecular size larger than that which can beabsorbed by a plant with which it is used.

Poly(amino acids) and salts thereof especially preferred for use in thepresent invention are water-soluble non-aromatic polymers having aweight average molecular weight (M_(w)) larger than 1,000 and cannot beabsorbed by the plant and are selected from one of the followingstructures:

wherein, X=H⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺², Mg⁺, Zn⁺, Co⁺², Li⁺, Ba⁺², Fe⁺² andFe⁺³, n=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by α-peptidebonds or α form units: m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linkedby β-peptide bonds or β form units: and p=10-1,000. Preferably, thepoly(amino acids) have the foregoing structures, wherein thepolyaspartic acid has m>50 mole % β form and n<50 mole % α form;preferably, wherein m is equal to 60-80 mole % β form; especially,wherein m is equal to 70-80 mole % β form and n is equal to 25-30 mole %α form. Preferably, the polyaspartic acid has a weight average molecularweight (M_(w)) of about 1,000 to 100,000.

The poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, most preferred for use in thepresent invention is polyaspartate, particularly sodium polyaspartate.Polyaspartate is a biopolymer synthesized from L-aspartic acid. Asparticacid is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as animportant amino acid. Aspartic acid is alanine with one of theβ-hydrogens replaced by a carboxylic acid group. Polyaspartate useful inthe present invention has a weight average molecular weight (M_(w)) ofapproximately 1,000 to approximately 20,000; preferably, approximately1,500 to approximately 10,000; especially, approximately 8,000. Aparticular useful form of polyaspartate for use in the present inventionis thermal polyaspartate. Thermal polyaspartate (T-PA) useful in thepresent invention is commercially available from Nanochem Inc., 6502South Archer Road, Bedford Park, Ill. 60501 under the designationAmisorb™ and Magnet™.

A scheme for the synthesis of T-PA is shown below as Scheme 1.

The fertilizer of the present invention can also include otheradditives, such as other plant nutrients, amino acids, pesticides; i.e.,insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and plant growth regulators. Theseadditives are included in the fertilizer composition of the presentinvention in amounts sufficient to be effective for the purpose forwhich they are intended. Such amounts preferably will generally rangefrom approximately 1 to 10 percent by weight based on the slow-releasenitrogen fertilizer.

Insecticides that can be used in the present invention preferablyinclude, but are not limited to, those insecticides disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,709,890 and 5,646,133, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference. Useful amounts are also disclosed inthose patents. Such compositions can also be used in the mannerdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,709,890 and 5,646,133.

Herbicides that can be used in the present invention preferably include,but are not limited to, those herbicides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,635,447, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.Useful amounts are also disclosed in that patent. Such compositions canalso be used in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,447.

Fungicides that can be used in the present invention preferably include,but are not limited to, chlorothalonil, propiconazole,thiophanate-methyl, azoxystrobin, benzoic acid, dithianon, fenhexamid,fenpropidin, fluazinam, fludioxonil, flutolanil, fosetyl-aluminum,hymexazol, imazalil, iprodione, mancozeb, penconazole, picoxystrobin,prochloraz, propamocarb hydrochloride, pyrimethanil, thiram,tolclofos-methyl, tolylfluanid, triadimefon, triforine. Useful amount offungicides that preferably can be used in the present invention are 0.25to 10 percent by weight based on the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Amino acids that can be used in the present invention preferablyinclude, but are not limited to, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine,arginine, cystine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine,praline, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine andvaline. Useful amount of amino acids that preferably can be used in thepresent invention are 1 to 10 percent by weight based on theslow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Other plant nutrients that can be used in the present inventionpreferably include, but are not limited to, fluvic acids, potassiumsulfate, iron sulfate, diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride, orpotassium thiosulfate. Useful amounts of other plant nutrients thatpreferably can be used in the present invention are 0.5 to 20 percent byweight based on the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

The fertilizer composition of the present invention can be applied usingany conventional fertilizer allocation technique. Such techniquesinclude, but are not limited to, broadcast, row placement, sub-surfaceplacement, strip-till, preplant, sideband, root zone banding, on-the-govariable rate, or on-the-fly. Generally, the composition of the presentinvention is applied to the soil in which plants, crops or turf isgrowing at the rate of approximately 1 to 100 gallons per acre orapproximately 3 to 300 pounds per acre per application. For agriculturalapplications (crops), the composition is preferably applied at a rate ofapproximately 15 to 100 gallons per acre or approximately 45 to 300pounds per acre per application. For turf applications, the compositionis preferably applied at a rate of approximately 2 to 30 gallons peracre or approximately 6 to 90 pounds (units nitrogen) per acre perapplication. For ornamental plant applications, the composition ispreferably applied at a rate of approximately 1 to 10 ounces per plantor approximately 10 to 300 ounces per 1000 square feet.

It is specifically contemplated that the for on-the-fly-typeapplications, the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer isapplied to said soil at the rate of approximately 10 to 400 pounds peracre per application and the water-soluble; non-aromatic polymer isapplied to said soil at a rate of approximately 2.7 to 128 ounces peracre per application.

It is also specifically contemplated that the fertilizer composition ofthe present invention can be applied to all or a portion of a plant orseed. For example, the roots of a plant can be dipped into a quantity ofthe liquid fertilizer composition of the present invention prior toplanting. Similarly, the liquid fertilizer composition of the presentinvention can be sprayed onto, or otherwise blended with, seed prior toplanting.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the present invention,but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in anymanner.

Example 1

A liquid slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with the presentinvention is prepared as follows.

50 gallons of LiquiGreen® are added to a mixing tank. LiquiGreen® is aliquid urea formaldehyde fertilize that contains up to 32 percentnitrogen, up to 80 percent of which is water-insoluble, which iscommercially available from Regal Chemical Company, Inc., Alpharetta,Ga. To the LiquiGreen® is added 6 quarts of sodium polyaspartate havinga weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000. The desiredmixture of various molecular weights is then blended at ambienttemperature with a paddle blender, bypass agitation or an air system.The resulting blend is useful as a liquid slow-release reacted nitrogenfertilizer.

Example 2

A solid slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with the presentinvention is prepared as follows.

100 pounds of solid urea formaldehyde are added to the hopper of atumbling blender. 2-4 quarts of poly(amino acids) or salts thereof, suchas, sodium polyaspartate are also added to the blender. The sodiumpolyaspartate is of one or more molecular weights of up to 10,000. Themixture is blended until the sodium polyaspartate is evenly distributedon the urea formaldehyde granules. The resulting blend is useful as asolid slow-release reacted nitrogen fertilizer.

Example 3

A trial was conducted in a production field of “Savannah” mustardgreens. The field was split using a standard nitrogen program of twoapplications of ammonium nitrate and a single pre-emergent applicationof Anchor™. Anchor™ is a mixture of 30% by weight liquid ureaformaldehyde (66%-70% nitrogen of which 60%-70% by weight iswater-insoluble) and 3% by weight sodium polyaspartate. All otherfertilization was preformed in the same manner across the entire field.Tillage, planting and maintenance were done in accordance with normalproduction practices. Data was taken by harvesting paired samples fromboth the Anchor™ and the ammonium nitrate treated areas. The linebetween the two treatments was identified in the field. Samples weretaken a few rows into the plots in order to avoid cross-contamination,but close enough that the paired samples were subjected to similargrowing conditions. Applications were made using large-scale productionequipment.

The treatments included in this trial is shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Treatment Timing Rate per Acre Ammonium nitrate Preemergent 80lbs nitrogen Ammonium nitrate 21 days later 40 lbs nitrogen Anchor ™Preemergent 32 gals. (96 lbs nitrogen)

On average, the sample from the Anchor™ plots yielded 3,267 lbs ofmustard greens per acre more than the ammonium nitrate treated samples(19,602 lbs/acre vs. 16,335 lbs/acre). This equates to an approximately20% increase in yield over the standard fertilization program.

Example 4

The following yield data compares the composition of the presentinvention against standard industry treatments practice for mustardgreens, watermelons, cantaloupes and tomatoes. The composition describedbelow as Anchor™ is a mixture of 30% by weight liquid urea formaldehyde(70% nitrogen of which 60%-70% by weight is water-insoluble) and 3% byweight sodium polyaspartate.

Mustard Greens:

Rate of Actual Total yields Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Ammonium120 lbs. (units) 16,335 lbs Nitrate plus Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)Anchor ™ 100 lbs. (units) 19,602 lbs

The crops treated with Anchor™ had an increase in yield of 20% over theyield for crops receiving the standard fertilizer treatment. The cropstreated with Anchor™ also had healthier leaves that were thicker andfuller and had better stems than the crops receiving the standardfertilizer treatment.

Watermelons:

Rate of Actual Total yields Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Ammonium 90 lbs (units) 66,120 lbs. Nitrate Anchor ™ 100 lbs (units) 102,602lbs 

The crops treated with Anchor™ had an increase in yield of 54% over theyield for crops receiving the standard fertilizer treatment. The cropstreated with Anchor™ also produced more fruit and the average piece offruit weighed more than the melons treated with the standard fertilizertreatment. The melons treated with Anchor™ were more dense and had ahigher sugar content than the melons treated with the standardfertilizer treatment.

Cantaloupe:

Rate of Actual Total yields Numbers of Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per AcreMelons/Acre Calcium Nitrate 110 lbs (units) 36,590 lbs.  8,412 melonsand Ammonical Nitrogen Anchor ™ 105 lbs (units) 54,520 lbs  10,548melons

The crops treated with Anchor™ had an increase of 22% in the number ofmelons per acre over the yield for crops receiving the standardfertilizer treatment, while the total weight of the Anchor™ treatedcrops increased 49% per acre over the yield for crops receiving thestandard fertilizer treatment. Yields were more fruit and improvedweight per acre. The Anchor™ treated also fruit had greater sugarcontent and darker color than the fruit treated with the standardfertilizer treatment.

Tomatoes:

Rate of Actual Total yields Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Ureaammonium nitrate 28- 280 lbs (units) 27,300 lbs. 0-0 Nitrogen Anchor ™280 lbs (units) 38,493 lbs 

Standard practice received nitrogen through a drip irrigation system ona weekly basis. Anchor™ was applied once after planting. Anchor™ treatedtomatoes were more firm and had greater fruit development per cluster.The Anchor™ treated tomatoes had an increased of 41% in total yield overthe yield for crops receiving the standard fertilizer treatment.

Example 5

Anchor™ in a liquid form is mixed with 20%-50% by weight water to beused as a dip treatment for nursery liners, vegetable or floweringplants, prior to planting or transplanting or to bulbs prior toplanting. It is believed that the safety to the crop is due to thenutrients being held tightly to the Anchor™ product. Improved plantgrowth results from treating the plant roots with this composition.

Similar techniques for treating roots of plants with pesticides and/orfertilizers by dipping or spraying are well known in the art and can beused with the present invention and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,936,573; 5,958,104; 5,661,103 and 5,935,909, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

Example 6

The Anchor™ formulation in a liquid form is injected into a seed coatingblender at the rate of 1%-5% by weight of the seed weight. The Anchor™formulation also can be blended with fungicide, insecticide or otherpesticide coatings at the same time. Then, the coated seed is allowed todry thoroughly prior to packaging. When the coated seeds are planted,improved seed growth results.

Similar techniques for coating seed with pesticides and/or fertilizersare well known in the art and can be used with the present invention andare disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,903,093; 6,660,690; and 6,884,754, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

It is specifically contemplated that the slow-release nitrogenfertilizer of the present invention can be applied once per growingseason. However, multiple applications can also be used, if desired.

Provisional application Ser. No. 60/709,378 filed Aug. 18, 2005 isincorporated herein by reference.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates only tocertain disclosed embodiments of the present invention and that numerousmodifications or alterations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

1. A composition comprising: a water-insoluble slow-release nitrogenfertilizer; and an effective amount of a water-soluble, non-aromaticpolymer having a weight average molecular weight (M_(w)) larger than1,000 and cannot be absorbed by a plant and having the structure:

wherein, X=H⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺², Mg⁺, Zn⁺, Co⁺², Li⁺, Ba⁺², Fe⁺² andFe⁺³, n=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by α-peptidebonds or a form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linkedby β-peptide bonds or βform units; and p=10-1,000.
 2. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein said water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizeris a water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer.
 3. The composition ofclaim 2, wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer ismethylene urea or isobutylidene diurea.
 4. The composition of claim 1,wherein said water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer ismethylene urea.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein saidwater-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is isobutylidenediurea.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble,non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of greaterthan 1,000 to approximately 20,000.
 7. The composition of claim 1,wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer has a weight averagemolecular weight of approximately 1,500 to approximately 10,000.
 8. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymerhas a weight average molecular weight of approximately 8,000.
 9. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises approximately0.5% to 10% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer based on thewater-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
 10. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein said composition comprises approximately 1% to 5% byweight water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer based on the water-insolubleslow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
 11. The composition of claim 1,wherein said composition comprises approximately 3% by weightwater-soluble, non-aromatic polymer based on the water-insolubleslow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
 12. The composition of claim 2,wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprisesapproximately 1% to 50% by weight nitrogen.
 13. The composition of claim1, wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer is thermalpolyaspartate.
 14. The composition of claim 2, wherein saidwater-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer is a liquid.
 15. Thecomposition of claim 14, wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogenfertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 36% by weight nitrogen.
 16. Thecomposition of claim 2, wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogenfertilizer is a solid.
 17. The composition of claim 16, wherein saidwater-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 5%to 50% by weight nitrogen.
 18. The composition of claim 1 furthercomprising a material selected from amino acids or fluvic acids.
 19. Thecomposition of claim 1 further comprising a pesticide.
 20. Thecomposition of claim 19, wherein said pesticide is an insecticide, aherbicide, a fungicide or a plant growth regulator.
 21. A seedcomprising a coating of the composition of claim 1 on at least a portionof the surface of said seed.
 22. A plant having a root system comprisingthe composition of claim 1 on at least a portion of said roots of saidplant.
 23. A method of treating plants growing in soil comprisingapplying the composition of claim 1 to at least a portion of said soil.24. A method of treating plants comprising: providing to said plants acomposition comprising: a water-insoluble slow-release nitrogenfertilizer; and a water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer having a weightaverage molecular weight (M_(w)) larger than 1,500 and having thestructure:

wherein, X=H⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺², Mg⁺, Zn⁺, Co⁺², Li⁺, Ba⁺², Fe⁺² andFe⁺³, n=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by α-peptidebonds or α form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linkedby β-peptide bonds or β form units; and p=110-1,000.
 25. The method ofclaim 24, wherein said slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is methyleneurea or isobutylidene diurea.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein saidwater-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is applied to said soilat the rate of approximately 10 to 400 pounds per acre.
 27. The methodof claim 24, wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer is appliedto said soil at a rate of approximately 2.7 to 128 ounces per acre. 28.A method of treating plants growing in soil comprising: applying to atleast a portion of said soil approximately 10 to 400 pounds per acre ofurea-formaldehyde; and applying to said same portion of said soilapproximately 2.7 to 128 ounces per acre polyaspartate.
 29. The methodof claim 28, wherein said polyaspartate has a weight average molecularweight of approximately 1,000 to 20,000.
 30. The method of claim 28,wherein said urea-formaldehyde has a nitrogen content of approximately1% to 50% by weight.
 31. A method of applying fertilizer to soilcomprising: applying to said soil a fertilizing amount of ureaformaldehyde; and applying to said soil approximately 0.5% to 10% byweight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
 32. A seed atleast a portion of which is coated with a composition comprising: ureaformaldehyde; and approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartatebased on said urea formaldehyde.
 33. A method comprising applying to atleast a portion of a seed a composition comprising: urea formaldehyde;and approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said ureaformaldehyde.
 34. A plant at least a portion of which is coated with acomposition comprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5% to 10%by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
 35. The plantof claim 34, wherein the portion of the plant coated with thecomposition is at least a portion of the roots of the plant.
 36. Amethod comprising applying to at least a portion of a plant acomposition comprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5% to 10%by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
 37. The methodof claim 36, wherein the composition is applied to the plant by dippingor spraying.
 38. A method of increasing the yield of crops comprising:providing to said crops a crop-increasing amount of a compositioncomprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5% to 10% by weightpolyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.